System for measuring points on a vehicle during damage repair
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for measuring comprising:
- a. a ladder track assembly in a horizontal plane and placed underneath a motor vehicle;
b. a measuring unit mounted on said track assembly, said measuring unit further comprising a passenger'"'"'s side camera, a driver'"'"'s side camera and a centerline camera mounted on said measuring unit along a line and means for automatically moving said centerline camera between said passenger'"'"'s side camera and said driver'"'"'s side camera;
c. means for automatically and controllably moving said measuring unit along said track assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carriage moves back and forth under a vehicle and three cameras or laser fixed along one axis pivot in a common plane, utilizing two cameras at time to locate a target fixed to a reference point on the undercarriage of the vehicle. Triangulation calculations, combined with the location of the cameras provide the location of the reference point in space in a three-dimensional coordinate system and compare that location with a stored designed location of the reference point prior to the crash, allowing the vehicle structure to be returned to its designed shape by other equipment.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring comprising:
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a. a ladder track assembly in a horizontal plane and placed underneath a motor vehicle; b. a measuring unit mounted on said track assembly, said measuring unit further comprising a passenger'"'"'s side camera, a driver'"'"'s side camera and a centerline camera mounted on said measuring unit along a line and means for automatically moving said centerline camera between said passenger'"'"'s side camera and said driver'"'"'s side camera; c. means for automatically and controllably moving said measuring unit along said track assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for measuring comprising:
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a. a ladder track assembly disposed in a horizontal plane on a floor and placed under a body to be examined; b. a measuring unit mounted on said ladder track assembly, said measuring unit further comprising a passenger'"'"'s side camera, a driver'"'"'s side camera and a centerline camera mounted on said measuring unit along a line and means for automatically moving said centerline camera between said passenger'"'"'s side camera and said driver'"'"'s side camera; c. means for automatically and controllably moving said measuring unit back and forth along said track assembly mounted on said measuring unit; and d. at least one target placed onto a body to be examined at a location remote from said track assembly and from said measuring unit and above said measuring unit; and e. means for locating said target relative to a reference point, said locating means further comprising means for selecting a pair of said cameras consisting of said centerline camera and either said passenger'"'"'s side camera or said driver'"'"'s side camera for locating a specific said target. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for measuring comprising:
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a. a ladder track assembly disposed in a horizontal plane on a floor and placed underneath a motor vehicle, said ladder track assembly further comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails comprising a driver'"'"'s side rail and a passenger'"'"'s side rail connected together by at least one brace; b. a measuring unit mounted on said ladder track assembly, said measuring unit further comprising a passenger'"'"'s side camera, a driver'"'"'s side camera and a centerline camera mounted on said measuring unit along a line and means for automatically moving said centerline camera between said passenger'"'"'s side camera and means for pivoting the aiming direction of each said camera with all three said cameras being pivotal for rotational movement in a single plane; c. means for controlled movement of said measuring unit back and forth along said ladder track assembly, said moving means mounted on said measuring unit and means for powering said movement of said measuring unit and said cameras mounted on said measuring unit; d. means for measuring the position of said measuring unit relative to a reference point on said ladder rail assembly, said measuring means mounted on said measuring unit; d. at least one target placed at a location remote from said ladder track assembly and from said measuring unit on the underneath side of a chassis of said motor vehicle; and e. means for locating said target said locating means further comprising said measuring unit and a computer and means for wireless full duplex communication between said measuring unit and said computer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification